Camping is a joy for avid adventurers who love the great outdoors. It can even be an enjoyable treat for first-time campers or those who want an escape from their fast-paced lives. All you need for a successful camping trip is to make certain that the stay is safe and comfortable. Here are some camping safety tips to ensure just that:
Bring Plenty of Food and Water
While a good camping experience is incomplete without cooking food over the campfire, it is best to prepare in advance. Bring along non-perishable items, like packaged food, or carry pre-cooked meals with you that might last you a few days. Freeze them overnight, so you only have to thaw them out before munching away. Properly storing frozen food is crucial for it to remain edible at dinner time. Carry enough drinking water that will last you the entirety of your trip. Most camping parks have tanks on-site, but the water is not fit for consumption. These camping food safety tips are essential to help you get by during your camping trip and return healthy.
Know Your Way Around a Campfire
The most appealing thing about a camping trip is the campfire. It creates a warm ambience and it is a joy to sit by the campfire, under the stars and enjoy nature in all its glory. While you admire the crackling of wood and the sparks that fly out, others can check eating campfire s’mores off their bucket list.
But building a campfire requires ample knowledge and experience. Striking stones and sticks against each other is a perfectly good method of starting a fire in books and movies, but real-life warrants using a lighter and accelerant. Make sure to choose a site for your fire away from low-hanging tree branches, shrubs and other flammable items. Line your pit with rocks so the fire does not escape the parameter in the unfortunate event that the fire starts to grow. Keep means of putting out the fire close by such as water or dirt. Never leave the campfire unattended, especially when you go to bed. It has to be put out entirely before you retire for sleep.
Protect Yourself From the Elements and Insects
You must have checked weather conditions when planning the trip, so you will know whether to carry woolen socks or sunscreen or both. Weather will not only surprise you by being starkly different from the predictions you saw a week before, but it will also vary vastly during the day and night.
Make sure to apply sunscreen during the day because sunburn and camping don’t mix well. UV protection will help with that even on the brightest of days. However, that does not mean sunscreen can be skipped on cloudy days. UV rays don’t take leave of absence on account of clouds. Another thing you should plan ahead for is insects. When out in the wild, bear in mind, insects are there as well. Insect repellants are a must-carry unless you want to befriend ticks and mosquitos. Wear long-sleeved clothing and avoid shorts at night for a restful sleep to ensue.
Prepare Your First Aid Kit
Make your first aid kit thoughtfully and equip it for emergencies you may encounter during your camping trip. Preferably, you should have first aid training. Always keep your first aid kit handy and take it along for any hikes and treks you plan to undertake.
Purchase a waterproof zipper bag that is easy to carry and keeps contents of the bag dry. Well-stocked first aid equipment should include adhesive bandages, crepe bandages, scissors, cotton balls, gauze, alcohol wipes, iodine solution, an antiseptic cream, antibiotic ointment, allergy medicine, chemical heat and cold packs, flashlights or waterproof outdoor light strings, batteries, magnifying glass and tweezers.
Generic, over-the-counter medication is recommendable. Grab some aloe vera gel, antacids, anti-diarrhea and nausea medicine, anti-allergy and antihistamines, anti-inflammatory medicines, anti-itch sprays and burn creams. A sufficiently equipped first aid kit will have you prepared for any emergencies that might come your way.
Keep extra items, it is always better to carry a little additional weight than wishing you had packed more. Your small tool kit should contain duct tape, a pocket knife with saw, super glue, a small mirror and flares for emergency signals.
Be Aware of Your Allergies
You might feel confident about being able to deal with emergencies because you’re carrying your stocked-up first aid kit. But that’s all that it is suitable for; first aid. It is not a mobile hospital, therefore you must avoid emergencies as best you can.
Touching unknown plants is a big no. Should you come in contact with a poisonous plant, wash the affected area immediately with plenty of water. Monitor for any difficulty in breathing and swelling. Know your allergies and carry your EpiPen on your person at all times. If you have not used it before, make sure you thoroughly run through the instructions before taking your trip. Let everyone in your camping party know your allergies and teach them the correct way of administering EpiPen if required. Map out the fastest route to the hospital nearest to your campsite.
Keep An Eye Out For Wild Animals
The smell of the delicious food you’ll be cooking over your campfire will attract wild animals, so it’s advised not to leave food lying around in the open. If there are leftovers, pack them back in airtight containers. Do not put it out to be consumed by animals in concern of it going to waste. Even trash needs to go in airtight bags. Preferably store it in your car instead of your tent. If you enjoy animal watching, do it from a safe distance without exposing yourself.
Nevertheless, snakes are creatures that roam freely, but the good news is that they do not attack unless threatened. When going on hikes, do not try to be adventurous and walk through forestation, but take the most frequented trail. Wear full-sleeves and layers of clothing which are difficult to penetrate. Long pants and closed shoes also protect you from the worst effects of a snake bite.
With these camping safety tips you and your loved ones can stay out of harm’s way. If your trip is safe, it will surely be enjoyable and memorable and soon you will be planning another adventure in the woods.
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